Court order bans resident from property in Wollaston Close, Bury St Edmunds, after drug-related activity and anti-social behaviour

A resident has been banned from a property in Bury St Edmunds following drug-related activity and anti-social behaviour.

West Suffolk Council, with support from police and Havebury Housing Partnership, applied for a closure order on the address in Wollaston Close.

The court order bans the resident and anyone else, other than employees and contractors of Havebury, from entering the property for an initial period of three months.

Anyone else found to be entering, could be jailed for up to six months or receive an unlimited fine for being in breach of the order.

The order, under the Anti-Social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, was granted at a hearing at Suffolk Magistrates’ Court, in Ipswich, on yesterday.

The council can apply for an extension for a further three months if required.

Magistrates granted the order after being satisfied that there was a risk of ‘disorderly, offensives or criminal behaviour’, likely to result in ‘serious nuisance to members of the public’ and there is likely to be ‘disorder near those premises associated with the use of those premises’.

Cllr Donna Higgins, cabinet member for families and communities at West Suffolk Council, said: “Previous attempts and interventions to resolve this issue have failed and enough is enough.

“That is why, with the support of Havebury and the police, we have successfully applied for this court order to give residents some peace in their own homes.”

Inspector Andy Beeby, of Bury St Edmunds police, said: “Suffolk Police worked with Havebury and West Suffolk Council to carry out joint reassurance visits to nearby residents and we hope this will improve the quality of life for them.

“It also sends the message that this type of ASB activity will not be tolerated and that we will take action.”

Amy St Ledger, assistant director of customer and housing services at Havebury, said: “This order demonstrates our commitment to dealing robustly with anti-social behaviour that impacts the lives of our residents.

“We will take action against anyone who breaches the terms of their tenancy agreement and work closely with the police and other partners to ensure our residents and the wider community can live peacefully in their homes.”